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"Straight A's," Ariana replied firmly. "No exceptions."
"Wow. You sound like me," Palmer replied. "That's cool that they're letting you retake them. I doubt they do that for everyone."
"I guess I'm not everyone," Ariana replied, loving how mysterious it sounded. It wasn't lost on her that Palmer had decided not to pry into the reason behind her bad day. He was a gentleman. Another point in his favor.
"I guess not," Palmer said, popping the baseball up with the back of one hand and catching it with the other.
"So, if we win this competition, we move into Privilege House?" Ariana asked.
"Not if. . . when" Palmer replied, raising his eyebrows. "And only the juniors and seniors get to move in."
"Okay, when. So how does it work, exactly?" she asked, looking up at the two towers, which could be seen from almost anywhere on campus. "Guys and girls living together, I mean."
Palmer chuckled. He paused in his tracks and crossed his arms over his chest, tucking the baseball under one bicep. "Well, the north tower is for guys, the south for girls. We only really mix in the common areas, but it's cool. You don't have to walk all the way across campus to meet up with your friends, and it's easier to get study groups together. It's definitely a privilege. I'm glad my uncle came up with it."
"Your uncle?" Ariana asked.
"Yeah, on my mom's side. The whole thing was his brainchild," Palmer said. "He was kind of a big deal around here. When he graduated he gave the school this huge endowment, but said he wanted
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to leave his mark on Welcome Week, so they let him create the fifth privilege--which was turning Wolcott Hall into a coed dorm for the upperclassmen winners. I guess he didn't appreciate the fact that he had so little access to females while he was here, and wanted to make it easier for future generations," he added with a laugh.
"Wow. That's so cool. Your family's part of the history of Atherton-Pryce," Ariana said, feeling a thrill of excitement. Palmer was more than the president of the student body, more than Mr. Popular--he was Atherton-Pryce Hall royalty. And apparently, his family had an insane amount of money, if his uncle could make that large of an endowment upon graduating from prep school.
"Yeah. It is kind of cool," Palmer said with a nod. "But it puts a lot of pressure on me to win and get in, you know? Keep it in the family."
Family pressure. Ariana knew a little something about that. "Sure."
"So three o'clock. Gym. Be there."
He tossed his baseball into the air and turned to walk away.
"Actually, I have a new number," Ariana said, hoping she sounded casual and composed when, in fact, she was almost panicked by the idea of him walking away right then. This was their first one-on-one conversation and she wanted it to last as long as possible. Long enough, at least, for her to make a lasting impression.
Palmer whipped his cell out of his jacket pocket without hesitation. "I'll be needing that."
Ariana blushed, flattered, and Palmer smiled, noticing.
"For team business, of course," he clarified teasingly.
"Of course."
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She gave him the number, adjusted her shopping bags in her hands, and kept walking, hoping he would fall into step with her. He did. Ariana smiled to herself. Clearly there were ten million other places a guy of his stature and popularity could be right now, but he was choosing to stick with her.
"So, Ana, before I let you go, do you have any special talents I should know about?" he asked, looking her up and down in a suggestive way.
Ariana's blush deepened.
"For the competition, of course," he added, grinning. He realized the effect he had on her and was obviously loving it. Ariana didn't mind, however. She was loving it too.
"Of course," she said again. "Well, Mr. President, I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for."
They had come to the crossing of the pathways in front of the school store. Ariana paused and looked up at him, the sun lighting his handsome face perfectly. He took a step closer to her. So close she could feel the warmth radiating from his body.
